What a Shocker!

When I first started reading Little Lord Fauntleroy, I thought that it was written by a man based on what Professor Irvin had told us. I too, was surprised but not really shocked to find out that it was written by a woman. It makes sense when you look at the word choices and emotion shown throughout the story. Knowing the gender of the author changes how you view the story and the meaning you make of the lessons.

Whenever I read a story, knowing the author to me is key for how you perceive their message. If a story is written from a male's point of view, I will try to think how a man thinks or understand that this is a male. The same goes for a female author and her story she is writing. For example, if a male wrote a story about his parent's divorce it would sound completely different than from a female's point of view. There would be less emotion shown, more feelings kept inside and probably more anger than sadness. When you can't tell the gender of the male, you put your own emotions into the story and take their point of view and add how you would feel. It makes the story your own when you don't quite know if the author is male or female.

When reading Little Lord Fauntleroy, I found it strange that a male author would use such girly terms or make Cedric so pretty. In the beginning, we have a description of little Cedric and he is described as having "quantity of soft, fine, gold-colored hair, which curled up at the ends, and went into loose rings by the time he was six months old". Thinking that Frances was a male, I was surprised at how much detail was put and how pretty he made the boy. Later he also added, "He had big brown eyes and long eyelashes and a darling little face". Now knowing that Frances is a woman, it will make the rest of the details more comprehensive. The rest of the story I can picture from a woman's point of view and make more sense of her story.

Show no emotion

Out of what we have read so far, I picked a passage that cracked me up and reminded me of when I was little. I remember having crushes on the boys in my class and being "mean" to them or doing something to get their attention.

After Tom meet his new love, "he pretended he did not know she was present, and began to 'show off' in all sorts of absurd boyish ways, in order to win her admiration. He kept up this grotesque foolishness for some time; but by and by, while he was in the midst of some dangerous gymnastic performances, he glanced aside and saw that the little girl was wending her way toward the house" (419). It is very obvious that Tom is a young boy in love and cannot show his true feelings.

We have learned that it is okay for young ladies to show emotion, but only in a positive light. For the two stories that we had read about young boys, they show all kinds of emotion. As in the passage above, we know that Tom has feelings for this new girl, but he is unable to show his true emotion. Instead, he acts out by doing gymnastics to get the attention because in that time, young men were not allowed to show true emotion. Even today, men are not allowed to show their emotion, as they say "boys don't cry". This saying is still followed today and boys are suppose to grow up to be strong men. This certain stereotype is still around today and told to young boys.

It's a Boy's World

We are able to notice very different views on boys in the 19th century compared to the stories about young girls. Boy's are more acceptable in the respect of growing up on the streets, working hard for their money and playing pranks or cracking jokes with people on the street. There is also a view different view on the relationship between young boys and their parents compared to the importance of parents for young girls.

We have know that it is easier for boys to make money in the city from The Hidden Hand and Capitola's struggle to make money as a young girl. We see from the beginning that Dick makes his money as black-booter and is very good at his job. Dick is able to enjoy the night life by his money as he explains to one customer, "Made it by shines, in course. My guardian don't allow me no money for theatres, so I have to earn it" (334). It is acceptable for young boys to work hard and enjoy their earnings in the night life. It would be a complete disgrace for young girls to work for their money this hard and then spend it late nights in a theatre or in late night bars.

We also see a completely different view of the relationship between parents, young girls and young boys. In our previous stories, parents are a key role in a young girl's life; teaching them manners, religious ways and how to be educated in society. We see a mention of Johnny Nolan's father and see his role as a figure is far away from what we are used to seeing in these stories. It mentions that "He had a father living, but he might as well have been without one." (349). It shows the complete difference between young girls and young boys; it helps the reader see that young boys are able to be more independent without parents and are not dependent on their help.